Acne treatment for teens
Acne treatment for teens works best as a simple routine used every day: a gentle wash, benzoyl peroxide or adapalene, a light moisturizer and sunscreen. Give it six to eight weeks before you switch anything.
Hoping to walk into school without checking your skin first?
Not right nowTonight, say it to yourself in the mirror: Wash, thin layer, moisturizer. Hands off.
Morning: Wash, sunscreen, go.
After practice: Rinse, clean shirt.
Same words every day for eight weeks.
What the script can't tell you is which kind of acne you have and how bad it is, and that decides whether a store product is enough. acne.today takes a quick look at your skin through your camera, asks you a few questions, and builds a routine for mornings and evenings. Ask a parent before you start, and see a doctor first for deep, painful bumps.
Get my routine on acne.todayUnder 12? Talk to a doctor first.
Last reviewed
Acne treatment for teens, built around your week
Good acne treatment for teens starts with the same basics, then adds a line for each thing your week throws at your skin. Tick what applies.
Morning
- Wash with a gentle cleanser and warm water.
- Sunscreen that says "non-comedogenic".
- Makeup labeled "non-comedogenic" or "won't clog pores".
After practice
- Pat sweat off with a clean towel, then shower soon after.
- Clean, soft padding under the gear, a moisture-wicking shirt, and a salicylic acid product for rub bumps.
- Nothing extra on rest days.
Evening
- Wash, then a thin layer of benzoyl peroxide or adapalene over the whole area.
- Moisturizer made for acne-prone skin.
- Take off every bit of makeup first.
- Keep gel and oil off your hairline; wash pillowcases and caps.
- Expect a flare before your period; tell a doctor if it's severe.
- Deep, sore bumps can scar: see a doctor or dermatologist.
- Under 12: ask a doctor before benzoyl peroxide.
Sources for each line: AAD pages on sports gear, workouts, makeup and hair products; AAP; MedlinePlus.
Why teens get acne
Hormones are a big reason acne is so common in teens. During puberty, hormones called androgens make the skin's oil glands bigger, and bigger glands make more oil, which can clog pores (AAD). It is very common: around 85% of people have acne as teens (AAP). If a parent or close relative had deep, painful pimples, the risk of that kind is higher too (AAD).
Daily Skincare Routine
- Cleanse. Twice a day, morning and evening, with a gentle cleanser and warm water. No gritty scrubs (AAP).
- Treat. Start with a lower-strength benzoyl peroxide wash, 3.5% to 5%, once a day. It bleaches fabric, so use an old towel and pillowcase (AAP). Adapalene goes on as a thin layer over the whole area that breaks out (AAD).
- Moisturize & Protect. A moisturizer made for acne-prone skin, and an SPF 30 sunscreen that won't clog pores (AAD).
On nights when one pimple won't wait for the routine to work, the quick fixes and what to skip are under how to get rid of pimples.
Important Habits to Follow
Do not pick or pop
Squeezing makes acne worse and can lead to infections or scars (AAP).
Avoid harsh scrubbing
Acne isn't dirt on top of the skin; it's oil and bacteria inside it, so it can't be scrubbed away. Rough cloths only irritate (AAP).
Be patient
Use a product for 6 to 8 weeks before judging it. Full clearing usually takes 3 to 4 months (AAD).
Before switching to something stronger, compare the best acne treatments so the next step is a real step up.
When to See a Doctor
- Deep, painful bumps, or spots that leave marks or dents (AAP).
- No change after a few months of steady use.
- Acne that is getting your teen down.
- Acne with irregular periods or new hair growth on the face or body (Endocrine Society).
Stronger medicines for severe or scarring acne come from your doctor or a dermatologist (AAP).
Acne treatment for teens: what parents can do
Good acne treatment for teens needs a parent's backing more than reminders. The AAD's advice comes down to five things:
- Take it seriously. Waiting for it to clear can cost self-esteem, and severe acne can scar.
- Remind less. In one small study, daily reminders felt like nagging and teens used their treatment less.
- Keep every appointment; people stick to a plan best around a visit.
- Watch for sadness that lasts two weeks or more, lost interest in things they enjoyed, or avoiding friends.
- Let your teen see the dermatologist alone for part of the visit.
A first visit script for teens: "This is what bothers me. This is what I've tried. I've had it this long."
Growing out of it
For most people, acne fades by their thirties, but some still have it in their forties and fifties (NIAMS). Some people still break out in their twenties and thirties, which has its own causes and fixes under adult acne.
Reader questions
How can I help my 14 year old with acne?
Take it seriously and get it treated early. Remind them less, not more: daily reminders tend to backfire. Keep every appointment and watch their mood.
Why does my teen have so much acne?
Puberty hormones make the oil glands bigger and busier. A parent who had deep, painful pimples raises the odds too.
How long does acne treatment take to work?
About 6 to 8 weeks before you see a change, and 3 to 4 months to clear. Stick with one routine that long before you switch.
What causes acne on the face in teenagers?
Extra oil plus bacteria inside clogged pores. It isn't dirt, so washing harder won't fix it.
What does a PCOS pimple look like?
It doesn't look special. But acne together with irregular periods or new hair on the face or body in a teen girl is worth a doctor's check, because those can be early signs of PCOS.
Sources
- What causes acne, HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- 5 ways to help your teenager survive acne, American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
- Habits that can make acne worse, AAD
- Is sports equipment causing your acne?, AAD
- Is your workout causing your acne?, AAD
- I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?, AAD
- Are your hair care products causing breakouts?, AAD
- What causes acne, AAD
- Dermatologists' tips for acne-prone skin, AAD
- Benzoyl peroxide topical, MedlinePlus (NLM)
- Acne, NIAMS (NIH)
- Prescription to nonprescription switch list, FDA
- Polycystic ovary syndrome, Endocrine Society
Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. See a doctor for deep, painful bumps, acne that scars, acne that affects mood, or any acne in a child under 12.
Same breakouts every week? acne.today scores your acne from one camera check and a few answers, then builds a routine to match. Ask a parent first.
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